Rat on Rats!

The Government of Alberta is reminding Albertans to 'Rat on Rats!' and help to keep the province's famous rat-free designation. 

For more than 70 years, Alberta has kept rats from establishing a permanent population in the province, dealing with any new infestations quickly and effectively. Rats are one of the most destructive invasive species in North America and Alberta remains the largest rat-free jurisdiction in the world.

Rats are believed to have been introduced to Canada around 1775, through early settlers docking their ships on the east coast. Since then, rats have spread all over North America, causing damage to crops, property, and the environment, and threatening public health through disease transfer. 

Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation established a Rat Control Program in the 1950s, when rats were first reported on Alberta's eastern borders. The program includes strict regulations, public education, and routine inspections of farms, businesses, and residential areas. 

The program relies heavily on Albertans to report observations of rats and rat damage. If spot a rat or suspect rat damage, email rats@gov.ab.ca, submit a report using EDDMapS, call 310-FARM, or contact your local municipality. All reports are provided to the Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation Rat Control Team who work with local stakeholders to develop solutions.

Increasing awareness of the issue of rats is critical to the success of the Alberta Rat Control Program. As most people in Alberta have never been in contact with rats and don't know what they look like or how to control them, there is a need for public education to promote awareness of the issue and provide current information about best practices associated with effective rat management.

You can learn more about the program, through the Alberta Invasive Species Council.